He added: "I don't think there's any chance at all of that person being involved directly within the inner sanctum of Sven's set-up - unless they are already in it of course."

English managers Sam Allardyce, Alan Curbishley, Steve McClaren, Stuart Pearce and Paul Jewell have all been mentioned as candidates.

Next Thursday there is an FA board meeting and the recruitment of the next England coach will be on the agenda

Brian Barwick

Middlesbrough boss McClaren is already involved in the England coaching set-up and has been mentioned as a possible contender for the job.

But Barwick insisted the FA were keeping an open mind about the appointment and said: "I have absolutely no doubt that some English managers will apply."

Asked if any would be capable of doing the job, Barwick replied: "Yes, of course."

The FA and Eriksson agreed this week to part company after the World Cup following the controversy generated after an undercover 'sting' by the News of the World newspaper on the Swede.

If the FA decides to appoint another foreign manager to follow Eriksson, Guus Hiddink, Ottmar Hitzfeld, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Fabio Capello could be in the running.

The two things are pretty significantly divorced

Barwick on fears England's World Cup preparations could be overshadowed by the search for a new boss

Barwick will get the process of bringing in a new national team coach underway next week when he discusses a suitable strategy for making the appointment.

"Next Thursday there is an FA board meeting and the recruitment of the next England coach will be on the agenda," said Barwick.

"I hope to put to the board a procedure for their consideration.

"In the past what has been a practical way for the FA to do this is to call on some of the experienced heads around the FA, create a small group and, with the chief executive leading, to go for and find the appropriate person.

"The process won't probably be in place for a week or a fortnight and after that we do have some time to make the right call.

"We can afford to be patient and try and make the right judgement call and use the time we have in our favour."